FOUR YEARS, $10 MILLION FOR SINGLETARY

It’s official -- Mike Singletary is the new coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Per Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, Singletary has signed a four-year, $10 million contract. Singletary also reportedly has the contractual right to hire and fire assistant coaches. It’s unknown at this point whether he’ll be firing offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Jay Glazer of FOX reported earlier in the day that Singletary would be willing to bring Martz back, but that the front office wants to get rid of him. Co-owner Jed York announced the decision to keep Singletary to the team after Sunday’s win over the Redskins. York also proclaimed, “This is the last time our season ends in December.” Technically, the Niners need only to get to the playoffs in 2009 and perhaps 2010 in order for that statement to be accurate, since an expansion of the regular season undoubtedly will push the final week of the regular season into January. But York seemed to be making a blanket vow that the 49ers will become a perennial playoff team. It would be quite a feat, given that the Niners haven’t been to the postseason since 2002.